Sorry for the overdose on sweet sadness here, guys. But I appreciated all reviews, whihooooope fully I manage to reply too... And as always, alerts and favorites as well!

Year Twenty-One: Taking Her Hand

Years later he'd still think about it... How much he'd disappointed- more than disappointed, devastated- the Moores. They never called again after the fire, and quite frankly, Sam neither blamed them nor thought he could handle speaking with Jessica's parents.

He'd never told Dean about the week before the fire. It would just add to the guilt. Dean asked, had asked, until Sam blew up in emotions and didn't talk much for a couple days.

Didn't trust his voice.

ONE WEEK PREVIOUS TO DEAN'S ARRIVAL AT STANFORD

Sam walked into the store apprehensively, the bell tinkling amiably behind him. And he immediately felt underdressed.

"Welcome, Sir!" A woman in a formal dress greeted him. Her name tag read "Allison" and Sam nodded with a smile. She seemed to look him over, eyeing his Stanford hoodie and jeans. "How can I help you today?" She finally asked.

Sam looked behind her at the glass cases. "I'm looking for a ring." He answered nervously. She winked. "You've come to the right place. We are a ring shop!"

She beckoned him forward and stepped behind the glass. "Engagement ring?" It was the first time Sam had heard those words out loud and directed towards him and he gulped before supplying a shaky yes.

"We've been dating for almost two years." Sam choked out. Was it hot in here?

The woman, Allison, ran her hand over the cases before stopping and pulling one out. She rested her elbows on the desk and held it for Sam to see.

"This is an engagement and wedding band set, complete with your diamond of choice among sixteen round diamonds." Sam raised his eyebrows. "Wow. H-how much?"

She handed him the price tag. Sam whistled. "Dear God, please tell me that's a telephone number." He muttered. She chuckled. "Not on budget?"

Sam shook his head firmly. She nodded in thought and moved down the table, her fingers once again coasting over the countertop in search of the perfect one.

"How about this one?" She suggested. "Humble but elegant." She held up a silver band with a large diamond in the center. Sam took it gently from her hand

"This is the engraved micropavé engagement ring with a heart stone, but you can have it custom made with other stones, including the asscher and marquise diamonds. And reasonably priced at just over sixteen hundred."

She looked up at him expectantly. Sam just shrugged. "I have no idea what to think or... I've never done this before."

"Well that's a good thing, isn't it?" She offered. Sam smiled. "I'm going to look around elsewhere. I'll be back."

Becky sat down on the couch and pulled the blanket up over her legs, throwing the end over her feet. "Hurry up, Jess!" She called into the kitchen. "I'm going to start without you!"

Jessica Moore popped a piece of popcorn in her mouth and plopped down next to her friend. The Sixth Sense title sequence played. "Hey! I said no to scary movies! Rom-coms, yes. Dramas, sure. Horror? Never. My TV, my rules!" Becky just shrugged mischievously and Jess rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

She was about to say something when Becky's cell rang. "Who is it?"

She pulled it out and checked the caller I.D. "It's Sam."

"Sam?" Jessica asked, grabbing the popcorn bowl back from her friend. "He knew we were having a girl's night. Why didn't he call the apartment number?"

Becky shrugged and answered. "Hey, Sam!"

"Becky. Is Jess there? Weren't you guys watching movies or something? This is more important. It's about... The ring..." Becky turned and winked at Jess.

"I'm alone. Jess went to... The bathroom. So, the ring?" She opened her mouth in surprise at her friend, who mouthed, "I knew it!" with a happy crinkle on the corner of her eyes.

"Yeah. I've found a few I think she'd like but I need your opinion."

"Okay. Watcha got?"

Sam stood in a slightly stuffy antique shop, two printed out pictures of rings, the third in his hand as the shop owner looked on.

"The first has a silver band, plain, with a decent sized diamond in the middle-"

"Okay, simple band, decent diamond..." Becky repeated, much to Jessica's delight. But the girl shook her head.

"Yeah, not so crazy about that one." She reported.

"That's okay. Good to know. The second has one large diamond called an ass-something-" Becky stifled a laugh. "With two smaller diamonds on the side."

Becky made eye contact with Jessica. "One large, two smaller? Sounds kind of blingy." She suggested, both to Sam and Jess. Jess tilted her hand in a maybe.

"It's a possibility."

Sam nodded. "That's fine." He held up the third one in his hand, studying it closely. "This one's vintage. A few humble diamonds twisted into a silver band. Decently priced. Pretty old." He added, nodding in thanks at the older woman at the front desk.

"Vintage with a few diamonds twisted into the ring? Antique, huh." Jessica pulled the blanket up and nodded vigorously. "That one sounds perfect!" Becky replied.

"Hey, why are you repeating everything?" Sam asked.

"Oh! Jess is coming out of the bathroom! Gotta go!" Becky diverted the question, snapping the phone shut before both girls erupted into happy giggles.

"Can I package that up for you?" The woman asked Sam as he placed the ring back in it's box.

"Uh, no. I don't have the money yet. I'll be back for it, though. Could you hold it?"

"Of course." She smiled and waved as Sam left. Light was dimming outside, and Sam took a look at his watch. "Crap!" This wasn't the kind of meeting to be late to.

So many thoughts were crossing his mind, it was overwhelming. The biggest being whether he would invite Dean to the wedding. Or Dad for that matter. Did they deserve it?

Yeah. He decided. They do. He knew Dean would care. No matter what, even if they hadn't spoken in almost two years. It always came back to the instant trust they had in each other. And Sam could already imagine that proud smile he remembered so vividly, shining on his brother's face. The Best Man himself, proud older brother, uncomfortable in of course, but still going through with it for his brother's sake.

And Dad? He could come. He could come and see Sam prove him wrong. Show him that he can have an average life. He does. He has a beautiful wife and a job and a home. He has normalcy.

But he was getting ahead of himself. There were still a couple yes's to go... Sam shrugged on the nice jacket just as the door opened, finishing the slightly more formal look he'd changed into quickly on the way. He smiled politely. "I hope I'm not late."

"Not at all, Sam. It's good to see you."

"You too, Mr. Moore." The older man stuck out a hand which Sam took, both equally impressed by the other's strong grip.

"I won't take much of your time, Sir." Sam said politely as he entered Jessica's childhood home. He would have driven all night to ask in person if he had to, but the Moores lived just outside Palo Alto.

"Oh, hello, Sam!" Mrs. Moore entered, bright and smiling as usual with a tray of cheese and crackers. "I thought Jess would be with you?"

"Um, no ma'am. It's important that it was just me this time." She cocked her head, placed the platter on the coffee table, and shrugged. "Okay, dear. I'm in the kitchen, so just holler if you need more food!"

"Thanks, Mrs. Moore, but, actually, if you wouldn't mind, I have something to say that you both might want to hear."

She nodded and shared a glance with her husband, taking a seat beside him.

"Mr. Moore. Mrs. Moore. You know how I feel about your daughter. Jessica is the world to me. Without her, I would crash and burn, and I can safely say she feels the same. I could use a thousand analogies to describe our relationship, each more cliche than the last-" Mr. Moore smiled and Sam relaxed slightly. "But nothing could describe what we've become. We're more than boyfriend and girlfriend. We're best friends.

"And we've met and talked so many times, I feel almost as if you're the parents I never really had. I hope you've seen enough of us together to understand that I would do anything for Jess. She will always be safe with me. I promise to protect her from harm, to take care of her for the rest of our lives."

Sam was surprised to see how emotional Jessica's mother had become. She gave a hint of a smile and nodded for Sam to continue.

"Mr. and Mrs. Moore, I love your daughter. This is the best way to prove that to her and to you. I'd... I'd like to ask your permission to take her hand in marriage."

The man sat back, running a finger along his chin. He and his wife exchanged knowing glances, and when they looked back and smiled, Sam couldn't help but smile himself.

Jess' mom embraced him once they reached the door.

"Sam," She whispered in his ear as they hugged. "I'm glad she chose you."

"Me too." Sam replied.

"Take care of my baby girl!" Mr. Moore took his hand firmly and they shook.

"You don't have to tell me twice, Sir. Jessica is everything to me." Sam replied. "You have my word, Mr. Moore." He thought back for the second time in one day to all his training as a child, the gun under the floorboards of his bed, though he'd stopped salting the doors and windows when Jess moved in.

"She'll always be safe with me."

So? What do you think? If you've got a minute, let me know! Reviews are greatly appreciated! I'll see you guys next week! And Dean's back!